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People with episodic migraines who received poor or very poor treatment had a higher risk of developing chronic migraines than those who got superior treatment, researchers reported at the International Headache Congress. About 8% of patients who received very poor treatment developed chronic migraines within a year, compared with 2.5% of patients who received the best treatment.

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Many providers don't follow current guidelines recommending that patients with uncomplicated headaches not be screened with CT or MRI, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Neurological Association. Researchers looked at data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys from 2007 to 2010 and found that 9.1% of patients with chronic primary headache and 13.6% of migraine patients were given orders for neuroimaging scans during routine primary care visits.

PET scans of patients experiencing the premonitory phase of migraine, which can include nausea, photophobia, phonophobia, mood swings and other symptoms, show activity in brain areas such as the hypothalamus, suggesting that migraine is not a response to pain stimuli, according to findings presented at a headache conference. The study included eight patients who had at least one premonitory scan without pain. The findings support the idea that migraine is a brain disorder, but this should not undermine the importance of pain experienced by patients with migraine, a researcher said.

Obese people have an 81% higher risk of episodic migraine than their normal-weight counterparts, especially women and those younger than 50, according to a Johns Hopkins University study. Researchers said data showed the risk of episodic migraine increased as people went from normal weight to being overweight and then obese. The findings were to be presented at the International Headache Congress.

Experts say regularly using pain pills -- even OTC medications -- to treat migraines can backfire on patients, resulting in rebound and chronic headaches, and even more pain. Research shows one-third of migraine sufferers have enough headaches to qualify for prevention medications but only 10% actually get them. Some people who have frequent headaches get what is called a transformed migraine, meaning the brain becomes more sensitive to pain, and the migraines become more frequent and more severe.

Experts say regularly using pain pills -- even OTC medications -- to treat migraines can backfire on patients, resulting in rebound and chronic headaches, and even more pain. Research shows one-third of migraine sufferers have enough headaches to qualify for prevention medications but only 10% actually get them. Some people who have frequent headaches get what is called a transformed migraine, meaning the brain becomes more sensitive to pain, and the migraines become more frequent and more severe.